A Battle for Public Space Claims to a Ukrainian national identity through public art in post-Soviet Ukraine. Julia Muller, 4069358
[email protected] Van Diemenstraat 45, 3531 GG, Utrecht Bachelorthesis Conflict Studies Taal- en Cultuurstudies 15 January 2016 Mathieu Segers 8756 words Julia Muller, 4069358 A Battle for Public Space 15 January 2016, Utrecht Index Introduction 2 1. Historical background and theoretical framework 5 - A nationalist or separatist revolution? 5 - National identity formation 6 - Does Ukraine have a history of its own? 7 - Language as a marker of national identity 10 2. Public art as a political instrument or social tool? 14 - Graffiti in the third space 14 3. Local evidence of claims to a national identity 17 - A new tsar is born 17 - Conclusions 27 - Literary heroes appropriated 28 - Conclusions 36 Conclusion 38 - Does Ukraine exist? A national identity redefined 38 List of References 40 - Sources 40 - Literature 42 Appendices 44 - Appendix A: Interview with Anastasia Kharitonova 44 - Appendix B: Verklaring Kennisneming regels m.b.t. plagiaat 49 1 Julia Muller, 4069358 A Battle for Public Space 15 January 2016, Utrecht Introduction ‘We are suffering from a post-Soviet syndrome. Not only the country needs to transform, our people need to change as well.’1 - Petro Poroshenko While the revolution in Ukraine no longer dominates worldwide media, it is far from over. What started off as generally peaceful mass protests against the pro-Russian regime of president Viktor Yanukovych, turned into a violent revolution in February 2014. A new, pro- European, interim government was formed soon after Yanukovych fled to Russia, followed by the emerge of a large separatist movement in especially the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, with the supposed support of the Kremlin.